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Latakia Governorate

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Latakia Governorate
مُحافظة اللاذقية
Map of Syria with Latakia highlighted
Map of Syria with Latakia highlighted
Country Syria
CapitalLatakia
Manatiq (Districts)4
Area
 • Total2,297 km2 (887 sq mi)
 Estimates range between 2,297 km² and 2,437 km²
Population
 (2014)
 • Total1,890,000
 • Density820/km2 (2,100/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
ISO 3166 codeSY-LA
Main language(s)Arabic

Latakia Governorate (Arabic: مُحافظة اللاذقية / ALA-LC: Muḥāfaẓat al-Lādhiqīyah) is one of the fourteen governorates (provinces) of Syria. It is situated in western Syria, bordering Turkey. Its reported area varies in different sources from 2,297 km²[1] to 2,437 km².[2] The Governorate has a population of 991,000 (2010 estimate). Most of the inhabitants are mainly from the Alawite Sect who form a majority in the central and southern parts of the Governorate while Sunni Arabs and Turkmen form a majority in the North East.The Capital Latakia by 2010 estimates had 400,000 people ,50% of whom were Alawites, 40% Sunni and 10% Christian[3]

History

The governorate was historically part of the Alawite State, which existed from 1920–1936. The city of Latakia was the capital of the state.

The region has been relatively peaceful during the Syrian civil war that started in 2011 to overthrow the government of President Bashar al-Assad, aside from a small but persistent rebel presence in the northeast of the province centred on Salma.

Districts

The governorate is divided into four districts (manatiq):

These are further divided into boroughs (nawahi).

Geography

Latakia is traversed (twice) by the northeasterly line of equal latitude and longitude.

References